History of Night Photography Development

Peter presented a historical overview of photography, focusing on night photography and its development. He shared family photos and discussed his great-great-grandfather Carl Zehm, a photographer and painter in Leipzig, and his great-grandfather Willie Bold, who became a court photographer for Emperor Wilhelm II. Peter explained how the transition from wet collodion plates to dry gelatin plates in the late 1800s made outdoor and night photography more feasible, enabling pioneers like Paul Martin to create pioneering night photographs in the 1890s.

Night Photography Techniques and History

Peter presented a detailed discussion on the history and techniques of night photography, focusing on Paul Martin's pioneering work in the late 19th century. He explained how Martin's nighttime photos, titled "London by Gaslight," earned him the Royal Photographic Society Royal Medal in 1896 and inspired other photographers like Alfred Stieglitz. Peter also shared his own equipment setup and techniques for night photography, including the use of a sturdy tripod, manual controls, and bracketed exposures. Throughout the presentation, he demonstrated various examples of night photographs taken in different locations around London, highlighting how factors like ambient light, weather, and lighting conditions can affect the final image.

Urban Photography Techniques Discussion

Peter discussed his photography techniques, focusing on capturing dynamic urban scenes in London. He explained his approach to metered exposure and bracketing, using ISO 100 and f/8-f/9 aperture settings, and demonstrated how he creates HDR images by blending multiple exposures using luminosity masks in Photoshop. Peter shared specific examples from locations around London, including the Tower Bridge area, HMS Belfast, and London Bridge, highlighting the importance of consistent focus and manual focusing techniques to maintain image quality in long exposures.

Night Photography Techniques Discussion

Peter and Ludshott discussed techniques for night photography, including bracketed sets and luminosity blending. Peter explained the use of luminosity masks and Raya Pro software, noting the learning curve involved. Ludshott shared his experience with astro photography and long exposure techniques. The conversation also touched on HDR images, with Peter explaining how software like Lightroom can blend bracketed pictures to create high dynamic range images.

High Dynamic Range Photography Tour

Peter explained his photography process for capturing images with high dynamic range, describing how he takes multiple exposures and prepares them for software processing similar to using Photomatrix. Suzy asked about his exposure settings, and Peter clarified that he uses Aperture Priority for most shots under 30 seconds, switching to Bulb mode for longer exposures. The group then began a walking tour of the St. Paul's and Millennium Bridge area, with Peter guiding them through various locations and sharing historical context about the buildings and bridges along the route.

London Bridges Photography Locations

Peter discussed various London bridges and photography locations along the Thames, including the Millennium Bridge, Southwark Bridge, and Blackfriars Railway Bridge. He explained the history of the Millennium Bridge, which opened in 2000 but had to close due to vibration issues and later reopened in 2002 after modifications. Peter also shared his experiences photographing at night and the importance of obtaining permission from property owners for photography on private land. He noted that security guards can be helpful in providing access to certain locations and ensuring safety.

London Photography Walkthrough

Peter conducted a detailed walkthrough of his photography in and around London, focusing on iconic locations such as Oxford Circus, Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, and various landmarks along the River Thames. He shared personal anecdotes about working in the West End and described his photography techniques, including using bracketed shots and streaking lights to capture specific scenes. Peter also discussed the regeneration of areas like Battersea Power Station and the transformation of Chinatown, while emphasizing the importance of security when photographing at night.

Canary Wharf Photography Presentation

Peter delivered a photography talk focusing on his work documenting the Canary Wharf and surrounding areas, sharing images from different locations and discussing technical aspects of his photography. He explained his use of Rye Pro by Jimmy McIntyre for luminosity masking when asked by Robert Ayto. The talk concluded with positive feedback from attendees and a mention of potentially inviting Peter back for a follow-up presentation in the future season.